Brake Rotor ridge at less than 20K miles?

[Jim Henderson]

My 2004 LS V8 has about 19,000 miles on it, of which I have put 5,000 since I bought it used.

I noticed the other day that the front brake rotors have a ridge at the outside rim of the rotor. On all my disc braked cars since 1980, I have never noticed this ridge until the car has at least 50,000 miles or much more on it.

The ridge is easy to feel and is also visible. It is maybe the outer 1/16 inch of the rotor, presumably where the pads do not touch and wild guestimate is that it is maybe 20 thousandths in height. I have not pulled the wheels yet, but I think I can feel a similar ridge on the inside rotor. The rears have no ridge.

Is this ridge on the LS rotors this early normal? The rest of the surface is normal, no grooves. The brakes do squeal a little at times when I do gradual braking but not moderate to hard.

Just curious since I have not seen this kind of wear this early before.

Jim Henderson

 

[l-m tech]

jim i see a lot of this on the vehicles that come into our dealership. the pads have a bunch of metal in them and the rotors seem to be a little bit softer.people come in with a brake noise and the lip will be rubbing on the outer edge of the pad and still have a ways to the squeeler.pads from ford only last about 24 to 40k and you only get 2 brake jobs on the rotors before thay are to thin to run.it kinda hard telling the cust. that they need new brakes at 30 k.